First in First Out Vending Systems

ABSTRACT

A vending machine for dispensing a number of products. The vending machine may include a transparent panel, a number of visible product columns, a number of non-visible product columns, and a product delivery system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to vending machines and methodsof operating vending machines and more particularly relates to vendingmachines and methods for providing first in, first out vending ofproducts stored therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many vending machines have a solid front door such that the consumerscannot see the products stored within. Such a solid door allows forstoring the products in a first in, first out (“FIFO”) fashion withoutconcern for aesthetics. Such FIFO rotation ensures that the productstherein are dispensed in a timely and efficient manner.

Glass front vending machines, however, allow the consumers to see theproducts within the vending machine. As such, glass front venders allowthe consumers to select the desired product by location. This type ofselection, however, can lead to certain stocking locations being vendedonly after the preferred locations are empty. Such empty vendinglocations may give consumers the impression that the remaining productsare old or stale. This vending pattern also may lead to poor productlifetime as well as increased maintenance time in that the olderproducts either must be manually moved from the less desirable locationsor left to be removed when out of date.

There is a desire, therefore, for improved vending machines and/orimproved vending methods for providing first in, first out dispensing ofthe products therein. The vending machines and methods preferably shoulddisplay the products to be dispensed in a prominent and attractivemanner so as to gain the consumer's attention and interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application thus describes a vending machine for dispensinga number of products. The vending machine may include a transparentpanel, a number of visible product columns, a number of non-visibleproduct columns, and a product delivery system.

The product delivery system delivers one of the products from one of thenon-visible columns to one of the visible columns. The vending machinefurther may include at least one delivery port such that the productdelivery system delivers one of the products from one of the visiblecolumns to the delivery port. The visible columns may include a numberof product cells. The product cells may include a number of sensorspositioned thereabout. The product delivery system may be activated whenone of the sensors indicates that one of the cells is empty. The visibleproduct columns may include heated or refrigerated product columns. Thenon-visible product columns may include ambient product columns orheated or refrigerated product columns.

The product delivery system may include a product tray. The visiblecolumns may include a product stop at one end thereof. The product stopmay include a number of tines. The product tray may include a number ofout of phase tines. The vending machine further may include a number ofproduct baskets. The product baskets may include a number of baskettines. The product delivery system may include a pulley system formotion in a number of axes. The product delivery system may include apicking device, a C-clamp device, or include a rotating basket.

The present invention further describes a vending machine for dispensinga number of products. The vending machine may include a transparentpanel, a number of visible product columns, a number of non-visibleproduct columns, and a product delivery system. The product deliverysystem may include a product tray and a three-dimensional drive system.

The product delivery system delivers one of the products from one of thenon-visible columns to one of the visible columns. The vending machinefurther may include at least one delivery port and the product deliverysystem delivers one of the products from one of the visible columns tothe delivery port. The number of visible columns may include a productstop at one end thereof. The product stop may include a number of tines.The product tray may include a number of out of phase tines. The visibleproduct shelves may include a number of product baskets. The productbaskets may include a number of basket tines.

The three-dimensional drive system may include a pulley system. Thevisible product columns may include heated or refrigerated productcolumns. The non-visible product columns may include ambient productcolumns or heated or refrigerated product columns.

The present application further describes a method of dispensing anumber of products from a vending machine shelf with a number of productcolumns. The method may include the steps of selling down a first columnof the number of product columns, selling down a number of adjacentcolumns one by one while leaving one or more remaining product columnsstocked in part or in full, restocking the sold down columns, andselling down the first of the one or more remaining column.

The method further may include the step of selling down the rest of theremaining columns one by one until the remaining columns are depleted.The restocking step may include pushing in a number of new products fromthe front of each of the product columns.

These and other features of the present application will become apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings and theseveral appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine as is describedherein.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the components of the vending machine ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of one shelf of the vending machine of FIG.1.

FIGS. 4A-4D are side view of a picking device for use in the vendingmachine of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5A-5B are side view of a C-clamp device for use in the vendingmachine of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6A-6C are side views of a chairlift device for use in the vendingmachine of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7A-7B are side view of an alternative chairlift device for use inthe vending machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative vending machine as isdescribed herein.

FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the vending machine of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 10A-10H are top views of the product delivery system of thevending machine of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 11A-11C are schematic views of a known product shelf loadingmethod.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a known product shelf loading method.

FIGS. 13A-13C are schematic views of an improved product shelf loadingmethod as is described herein.

FIGS. 14A-14C are schematic views of the improved product shelf loadingmethod.

FIGS. 15A-15C are schematic views of the improved product shelf loadingmethod.

FIGS. 16A-16B are schematic views of the improved product shelf loadingmethod.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the improved product shelf loadingmethod.

FIGS. 18A-18C are schematic views of the improved product shelf loadingmethod.

FIGS. 19A-19C are schematic views of the improved product shelf loadingmethod.

FIGS. 20A-20C are schematic views of the improved product shelf loadingmethod.

FIGS. 21A-21C are schematic views of the improved product shelf loadingmethod.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of the improved product shelf loadingmethod.

FIGS. 23A-23E are schematic views of the improved product shelf loadingmethod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The vending machines and methods described herein may be used with anumber of products 10 to be dispensed therefrom. The products 10 mayinclude beverage bottles and cans and similar types of containers. Thedefinition of the term “products 10”, however, also includes any type ofitem or container that may be vended as is described in more detailbelow. As such, the present invention is not limited to the nature ofthe products 10. Any number of the products 10 may be used herein.

Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate likeelements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a vendingmachine 100 as is described herein. The vending machine 100 includes anouter shell 110. The outer shell 110 may be insulated. The outer shell110 defines an interior vending space 120. The interior vending space120 may have visible and non-visible portions as will be described inmore detail below. The interior vending space 120 may have a number ofproduct shelves 130 positioned therein. The product shelves 130 may beflat or slanted for a gravity load. Any number of product shelves 130may be used herein. The products 10 may be positioned on the productshelves 130.

In this example, the vending machine 110 may include a front door 140.The front door 140 has at least one transparent panel 145. A consumercan see through the transparent panel 145 and see at least some of theproducts 10 therein. The vending machine 110 may include a dispensingport 150. The consumer can grasp and remove the product 10 as it entersthe dispensing port 150. More than one dispensing port 150 may be used.The vending machine 100 may include a number of selection panels 160.The selection panels 160 may indicate the type of products 10 storedtherein and/or the selection panels 160 may indicate a specific locationwithin the vending machine 100 from which a product 10 may be vended.The vending machine 100 may include a payment device 170. The paymentdevice 170 may take cash, credit cards, debit cards, or other methods ofpayment. The vending machine 100 further may include conventionalheating and/or refrigeration devices 180.

Operation of the vending machine 100 may be controlled by a controller190. The controller 190 may be a conventional programmablemicroprocessor or the like. The controller 190 may be in communicationwith other devices, either directly or within a network. Other types ofconventional vending machine components may be used herein. Examples ofknown vending machines 100 with the front door 140 include the “DN500”glass front vender sold by Dixie-Narco Vending Systems of Williston,S.C., the “Vision Vender” sold by Royal Vendors, Inc. of Kearneysville,W. Va., and the “VUE” vender sold by Sanden Vendo America of Dallas,Tex.

The vending machine 100 also may include a product rotation system 200.As is shown by way of example in FIG. 3, each product shelf 130 may havea number of product columns 135, with some of the product columns 135being visible to the consumer and some not being visible. Specifically,each product shelf 130 may have a first visible column 210, a secondvisible column 22, a third visible column 330, and a fourth visiblecolumn 240 as well as a first non-visible column 250 and a secondnon-visible column 260. Any number of visible and non-visible columnsmay be used herein. By the term “non-visible”, we mean that the view ofthe columns is not readily apparent from a distance. Even thenon-visible columns, however, can be seen when looking through the frontdoor 140 at close range.

The visible product columns 210-240 may be heated or refrigerated asdesired. The non-visible product columns 250, 260 also may be heated orrefrigerated or they may remain at ambient conditions so as to conserveenergy and promote a longer shelf life (in the case of products to beheated). The product columns 135 also can be arrange in visible andnon-visible positions horizontally as well as the vertical embodimentshown, i.e., entire shelves may be visible or non-visible.

Each of the visible columns 210-240 may include a number of productcells. By way of example, the first visible column 210 may include afirst product cell 270, a second product cell 280, a third product cell290, and a fourth product cell 300. Any number of product cells may beused herein. Each cell 270-300 is simply a location in the productcolumn 210. Each or some of the product cells 270-300 may include asensor 310. The sensor 310 may be a touch sensor that detects thepresence of a product 10 in the particular cell 270-300. The sensor 310also may be a photoelectric cell, magnetic, or any other type ofconventional sensing device. Each sensor 310 may be in communicationwith the controller 190.

The product rotation system 200 also includes a product delivery system320. The product delivery system 320 may be any type of device that canmove the products 10 from the non-visible cells 250, 260 to the visiblecells 210-240. The product delivery system 320 may include a picking orgrabbing device as is described in more detail below. The productdelivery system 320 also may be any type of electromechanical, magnetic,pneumatic, combinations thereof, or other types of transport devices.

For example, FIGS. 4A-4D show one embodiment of the product deliverysystem 320. In this embodiment, a picking device 330 is shown. Thepicking device 330 may include a pair of fingers 331. The fingers 331may be sized so as to “pick” a product 10 therebetween. The fingers 331then may rotate about a pivot point 332 attached to an arm 333. Thefingers 331 thus may pick the product 10, pivot about the pivot point332, and the arm 333 delivers the product 10 as desired. The fingers 331may rotate via conventional drive motors or otherwise. The arm 333 maymaneuver via a pulley system such as that shown in commonly owned U.S.Pat. No. 6,682,289 to Credle, Jr., entitled “Dispensing Apparatus andMethod of using Same.” U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,289 is incorporated herein byreference. Other drive methods may be used herein.

FIGS. 5A-5B show a further embodiment of the product delivery system320, a C-clamp device 335. The C-clamp device 335 includes a fixedbottom member 336 and an extendable top member 337. The extendable topmember 337 is maneuvered up and down via a piston 338 or a similar typeof device. The piston 338 in turn is connected to an arm 339. In use,the fixed bottom member 336 is positioned underneath a product 10. Theextendable top arm 337 is then maneuvered into position via the piston338. Once the product 10 is in place, the arm 339 may deliver theproduct 10 as desired.

FIGS. 6A-6C show a further embodiment of the product delivery system320, a chair lift device 340. The chair lift device 340 includes abasket 341 that may pivot about a pivot point 342. The basket 341 andthe pivot point 342 are in turn connected to an arm 343. In use, thebasket 341 catches the product 10. The arm 343 then maneuvers the basket341 to the desired position where the basket 341 pivots about the pivotpoint 343 so as to release the product 10. A similar embodiment is shownin FIGS. 7A-7B with an alternative basket 345. The basket 345 has alower pivot point 346 mounted to a guide rail 347. The basket 345 maypivot about the pivot point 346 via a piston or other type of device forproviding reciprocating motion.

In use, new products 10 may be loaded into the vending machine 100 viathe non-visible product columns 250, 260. The controller 190 monitorsthe number of products 10 positioned within each cell 270-300 of thevisible product columns 210-240 on each product shelf 130. When thecontroller 190 notes that one of the cells 270-300 is empty or if agiven product column 210-240 is below a certain threshold of theproducts 10, the product delivery system 320 will move a product orproducts 10 from the non-visible columns 250, 260 to the visible columns210-240. The new products may be positioned behind the existing products10 within each product column 210-240.

The product rotation system 200 thus ensures that FIFO rotation ismaintained. Further, the products 10 may be prechilled in thenon-visible columns 250, 260 before being positioned within the visiblecolumns 210-240. The product rotation system 200 also maximizes storagespace within the vending machine 100 as a whole. The product rotationsystem 200 also may provide entertainment to consumers as the restockingprocess takes place.

FIGS. 8-10 show a further embodiment of a vending machine 350 as isdescribed herein. The vending machine 350 is largely similar to thevending machine 100 and its components described above. In thisembodiment, however, the product shelves 130 do not come all the way tothe front door 140. Rather, a number of door shelves 360 are positionedadjacent to the front door 140. The door shelves 360 may include abasket 370 positioned across from each visible column 210-240. Eachbasket 370 may be made out of a number of tines 380. Likewise, eachproduct shelf 130 may include a product stop 390. The product stop 390also may be made out of tines 400. Each product shelf 130 may have anumber of non-visible columns 250, 260 and/or a number of productshelves 130 may continue beneath the front door 140 or elsewhere andhence be out of visible range.

The vending machine 350 also includes a product delivery system 410.Specifically, the product delivery system 410 may include a product tray420. The product tray 420 includes a number of tines 430. The tines 430are out of phase with the tines 380 of the basket 370 and the tines 400of the product stop 390 such that they can pass therethrough. Each endof the product tray 420 also includes a flange 440 so as to maintain theproducts 10 therein. The product tray 420 may be capable of motion alongthe X, Y, and Z axes. The product tray 420 may be maneuvered along the Xand Y axes via a pulley system such as that described in U.S. Pat. No.6,682,289 referenced above. The product tray 420 also may be maneuveredalong the Z axis via pneumatics or other conventional types of drivemeans.

The product tray 420 thus can maneuver the products 10 from thenon-visible product columns 250, 260 and from the non-visible productshelves 130. The product tray 420 also can deliver the products 10 tothe door shelves 360 and to the dispensing area 150 as well as to andfrom other locations within the interior vending space 120. The producttray 420 also can replace the products 10 if the consumer decides not tomake a purchase. The products 10 are picked up and deposited via the useof the out of phase tines 430.

For example, the product tray 420 maneuvers in the Z direction in FIG.10A towards a product stop 390 on a product shelf 130. The product tray420 then moves in the Y direction in FIG. 10B so as to acquire theproduct 10. The product 10 then rolls to the front of the product tray420 and is stopped by the flange 440 in FIG. 10C. The product tray 420then moves back in the Z direction towards the door shelves 360 in FIG.10D. The product tray 420 moves downward in the Y direction in FIG. 10Eso as to deliver the product 10 into a basket 370 of the door shelves360 in FIG. 10F. Alternatively, the product 10 can be delivered to thedispensing port 150 in FIGS. 10G and 10H. Other type of delivery methodsmay be used herein.

The products 10 thus may be maneuvered to any location within theinterior vending space 120. The products 10 may be loaded within thenon-visible columns 250, 260 or the non-visible product shelves 130 andthen moved into the visible columns 270-300 or otherwise as desired.Specifically, sales locations on the door shelves 360 can be controlledwhile the products 10 may be rotated as desired. The use of the out ofphases tines 430 also allows softer handling of the products 10 ascompared to, for example, a gravity drop.

FIGS. 11A-11D through 12 show a known sell down and restocking method asmay be used with almost any type of vending machine. Traditionally, theproducts 10 positioned on the product shelves 130 would be sold downevenly over tine as is shown in FIGS. 11A-C. As is shown in FIG. 12,however, when new products 10 are pushed in, the original cold products10 are pushed to the back such that the consumer may get a warm product10 after a reload. Likewise, an out of date issue may arise if theoriginal products 10 are continually pushed to the back of the productshelf 130 without rotation.

In the improved sell down method, however, each column is sold downseparately. For example, FIGS. 13A-13C show a product shelf 500 withcolumns 510, 520, 530, 540, and 550. As is shown, the products 10 incolumn 550 are dispensed first. Once column 550 is empty, column 540 isdispensed as is shown in FIGS. 14A-14C. Likewise, columns 530 and 520are dispensed as is shown in FIGS. 15A-15C and in 16A-16B. If the shelf500 is then reloaded from the front, the remaining products 10 in column520 are pushed to the back and columns 530-550 are filled as is shown inFIG. 17. At that point, the next full column is dispensed. In this case,the first column 510 as is shown in FIGS. 18A-18C is dispensed. Thismethod thus allows the new products 10 to be chilled. Once the products10 in column 510 are dispensed, the new products in column 550 aredispensed as is shown in FIGS. 19A-19C. Likewise, the products in column540, 530 are then dispensed as is shown in FIGS. 20A-20C and 21A-21C. Ifthe shelf 500 is then reloaded when column 530 is half full, theremaining products in column 530 are pushed back and columns 510, 540,550 are filled as is shown in FIG. 22. The next filled column is thendispensed as is shown in FIGS. 23A-23E. In this case, column 520 isdispensed, including the last remaining products 10 from the originalload. The process is then repeated.

The methods described herein thus provide for continuous rotation of theproducts 10 therein so as to minimize out-of-date products. Likewise,consumers are guaranteed a cold product 10 after a reload. These vendingmethods may be programmed into the controller 190 via conventionalmethods. Similar methods may be used herein.

It should be apparent from the foregoing relates only to the preferredembodiments of the present invention and that numerous changes andmodifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.

1. A vending machine for dispensing a number of products, comprising: a transparent panel; a plurality of visible product columns; a plurality of non-visible product columns; and a product delivery system.
 2. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the product delivery system delivers one of the number of products from one of the plurality of non-visible columns to one of the plurality of visible columns.
 3. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising at least one delivery port and wherein the product delivery system delivers one of the number of products from one of the plurality of visible columns to the at least one delivery port.
 4. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of visible columns comprises a plurality of product cell.
 5. The vending machine of claim 4, wherein the plurality of products cells comprises a plurality of sensors positioned thereabout.
 6. The vending machine of claim 5, wherein the product delivery system is activated when one of the plurality of sensors indicates that one of the plurality of cells is empty.
 7. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the product delivery system comprises a product tray.
 8. The vending machine of claim 7, wherein the plurality of visible columns comprise a product stop at one end thereof and wherein the product stop comprises a plurality of tines.
 9. The vending machine of claim 8, wherein the product tray comprises a plurality of out of phase tines.
 10. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of product baskets and wherein the plurality of product baskets comprise a plurality of basket tines.
 11. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the product delivery system comprises a pulley system for motion in a plurality of axes.
 12. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of visible product columns comprises heated or refrigerated product columns.
 13. The vending machine of claim 12, wherein the plurality of non-visible product columns comprise ambient product columns or comprise heated or refrigerated product columns.
 14. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the product delivery system comprises a picking device.
 15. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the product delivery system comprises a C-clamp device.
 16. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the product delivery system comprises a rotating basket.
 17. A vending machine for dispensing a number of products, comprising: a transparent panel; a plurality of visible product columns; a plurality of non-visible product columns; and a product delivery system; the product delivery system comprising a product tray and a three-dimensional drive system.
 18. The vending machine of claim 17, wherein the product delivery system delivers one of the number of products from one of the plurality of non-visible columns to one of the plurality of visible columns.
 19. The vending machine of claim 17, further comprising at least one delivery port and wherein the product delivery system delivers one of the number of products from one of the plurality of visible columns to the at least one delivery port.
 20. The vending machine of claim 17, wherein the plurality of visible columns comprise a product stop at one end thereof and wherein the product stop comprises a plurality of tines.
 21. The vending machine of claim 17, wherein the product tray comprises a plurality of out of phase tines.
 22. The vending machine of claim 21, wherein the plurality of visible product shelves comprises a plurality of product baskets and wherein the plurality of product baskets comprises a plurality of basket tines.
 23. The vending machine of claim 17, wherein the three-dimensional drive system comprises a pulley system.
 24. The vending machine of claim 17, wherein the plurality of visible product columns comprises heated or refrigerated product columns.
 25. The vending machine of claim 17, wherein the plurality of non-visible product columns comprise ambient product columns or comprise heated or refrigerated product columns.
 26. A method of dispensing a number of products from a vending machine shelf with a number of product columns, comprising: selling down a first column of the number of product columns; selling down a number of adjacent columns one by one while leaving one or more remaining product columns stocked in part or in full; restocking the sold down columns; and selling down the first of the one or more remaining column.
 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of selling down the rest of the one or more remaining columns one by one until the one or more remaining columns are depleted.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the restocking step comprises pushing in a number of new products from the front of each of the plurality of product columns. 